title: Vitamin B12 in metformin-treated diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of vitamin B12 deficiency and the factors associated with serum vitamin B12 levels in a sample of metformin-treated Brazilian diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  144 patients were included. Serum vitamin B12 levels were low (< 125 pmol/L) in 10 patients (6.9%) and possibly low (125 - 250 pmol/L) in 53 patients (36.8%). Serum vitamin B12 levels were negatively associated with age (B = -3.17; β= -0.171; p = 0.037) and duration of metformin use (B= -33.36; β= -0.161; p = 0.048), and positively associated with the estimated intake of vitamin B12 (B= 67.96; β= 0.249; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in metformin-treated diabetic patients. Older patients, patients in long term treatment with metformin and low vitamin B12 intake are probably more prone to this deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nervo
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubini
authors.forename: Fabiana Viegas
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Raimundo
authors.forename: Gustavo Adolpho Moreira
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Leonardo Moura
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Tania Weber
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Furlanetto
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D008687:Metformin; D014805:Vitamin B 12